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Lydia Ko surprised by her own success

Monday 9 Dec 2013 9:54 a.m.

Lydia Ko (photosport)

Lydia Ko admits she's surprised by the speed of her transition from being an amateur to becoming a professional golf champion.

The 16-year-old showed composure that belied her age in coming from three shots behind midway through the final round to claim a three-shot victory in the Swinging Skirts World Ladies Masters in Taiwan.

Ko's success, and a cheque for $US150,000 ($NZ181,000), came in just her second tournament as a professional.

It follows her 21st placing on debut in the LPGA's season-ending CME Group Titleholders Championship in Florida in November.

"I'm really surprised," she said after walking off the final green at the Miramar Golf and Country Club in Taipei.

"I didn't really have this coming. I think playing in the CME two weeks ago definitely helped me with all the nerves."

The Aucklander said she felt the butterflies before the final round, when she trailed overnight leader Ryu So-yeon of South Korea by a stroke, but she told herself just to concentrate on her game.

"I always say I can't control what the opposition does," she said.

"All I can do at the end of the day is control my game and that's even hard by itself."

Among those who sent their congratulations was All Blacks fullback Israel Dagg, who in October had helped Ko announce her decision to turn professional via a YouTube video.